Mountain Cats Fall 4-2 at California (PA)

09/21/2010

Josh Wentz (Greentown, Pa.) and Marc Bucci (Pittsburgh, Pa.) each scored goals, but California University (PA), ranked No. 8 in this week's National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Atlantic Region Poll, used a pair of goals in the final two minutes of the first half to build a 2-0, before going on to a 4-2 victory over the Atlantic Region No. 10-ranked Mountain Cat soccer team on Tuesday. Pitt-Johnstown had its two-match winning streak snapped and fell to 3-3-0.
Ryan Grindle got the Vulcans on the board off of an assist from Nemansa Visekruna in the 43rd minute. Less than a minute later, Russell Bootwright beat Mountain Cat goalkeeper Mike Cuccaro (Pittsburgh, Pa.) to increase the lead to 2-0 at the half.
The Mountain Cats cut it to 2-1 five minutes into the second half when Derik Swope (Harleysville, Pa.) set up Wentz for his first goal of the season.
However, California (PA) made it 3-1 on Brady Sanders goal in the 61st minute.
Bucci then tallied a goal with five minutes to play to get the deficit to 3-2, but the Vulcans added an insurance goal with less than two minutes to play to set the final at 4-2.
Cuccaro faced 19 California (PA) shots and made eight saves, but surrendered all four goals and suffered the loss. Derek Yobbi saw six Pitt-Johnstown shots and gave up two goals.
With the win, California (PA) improved to 3-1-1.
The Mountain Cats travel to West Virginia Wesleyan College for a WVIAC match on Saturday, before hosting a conference match against Wheeling Jesuit (WV) University on Wednesday, September 29 at 4 p.m. at the Pitt-Johnstown Soccer Field.

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